Welcome to the Sankofa newsletter.

In this Issue

	What's been happening?
	SIAO 2008
	Trampled Rose

In Other News

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What's been happening?

• Sankofa Launch - the shop launch went off with a hiss and a roar .... thanks to everyone who was able to come along - it was a great night.

• I've updated the website with a heap of new products -
• Click here to check out our new homewares .....
• Click here to check out our new jewellery ...
• Click here to check out our new tote bags ....
• Click here to checkout our new children's clothing

• Last week Sankofa had a stall at a fair trade market hosted by the Department of Justice as part of their Anti-Poverty Week events.   Congratulations to the Department for becoming the first state government 'fair trade workplace' which includes providing fairtrade tea and coffee for staff.

Better go, gotta pack (see below) ....

Cheers, Kym

SIAO 2008

Tomorrow I'm off to Ghana and Burkina Faso .... still haven't packed yet ...

I (almost) feel like its a bit crazy to be making an overseas trip so soon after opening the shop but there's a very good reason for it. 

Every two years Burkina Faso hosts a craft trade fair - Salon International de l'Artisanat de Ouagadougou (SIAO).  The fair is funded by international aid as a way to bring money into Burkina's economy as well as showcasing handmade products from Burkina and other African countries.  

And ...... alot of not-for-profits, small craft co-operatives and African artists receive aid funding to exhibit at SIAO. 

So ...... given it only happens every two years and is a great opportunity to meet new producers and source new products, I thought it would be crazy of me not to go (despite the appalling state of the exchange rate)!

Trampled Rose

Trampled Rose is a non-profit organisation based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and provides temporary shelter for women waiting to be admitted to the Fistula Hospital. 

They provide food, shelter, education and training to some of Ethiopia's most disadvantaged women suffering from obstetric fistula that results from complications during childbirth.

Trampled Rose teaches the women how to make paper beads and design jewellery using these beads and other materials from the local market.  I was fortunate enough to buy some of the women's jewellery recently ...... and it sold out! 

Fortunately I'll be getting more ... and what's more, two of the trainers at Trampled Rose (Tigist and Haiminot) have been lucky enough to receive aid funding to exhibit at SIAO ... it's a huge opportunity for them to gain exposure to an export market .... and I'm very excited to be able to meet them .... (Ethiopia is now on my ever growing list of countries to visit!).